A/N I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING! I ONLY OWN THIS PLOT! SHOUT OUT TO IM A SKYSCRAPER FOR HER HELP TO OVERCOME WRITERS BLOCK AND GIVE ME GREAT IDEAS FOR THIS NEXT CHAPTER! THANK YOU IM A SKYSCRAPER!

They were right, it took a few weeks and a few phone calls back home to Jerry and Arthur but Alex was able to get passed what happen and move on. She now firmly and strongly knew and believed that her father's death was not all her fault. She even started doing better in classes and learning all the new spells.

Malfoy and the others all became good friends. It was hard at times because he was Syltheran but they still made time to hang out with each other.

The more Alex learned and the more she practiced the less afraid she became of Ginny. She still didn't like Ginny and was angry at her for being so mean and hurtful at times but she was long scared of seeing her or passing her in the hallways. In fact, Alex and Ginny were about to get one step closer, they just didn't know it yet.

It all started in her spells class when their teacher was passing back exams they had taken the week before. Her professor laid her paper down in front of her. Alex lifted it up and a huge grin appeared on her face when she saw an B+.

"All right, that's my girl." Harry said proudly and leaned over to kiss her cheek.

"How are you possibly still my sister?" Justin teased.

"Oh I'm not, didn't hear I was adopted." Alex teased back.

The adoption was now something Alex had learned to laugh and joke about without getting upset by it. Justin fake gasped. "No, it's not true. You lie!"

Alex giggled and shook her head.

"You're adopted, that would explain so much."

Harry said teasingly in his mind. Alex giggled and playfully slapped his arm. "Shut up."

"I didn't say anything." He winked, making her blush and giggle.

Alex was too busy joking with her friends that she didn't notice a kid behind her look over her shoulder at her paper. That is until she heard him speak.

"Wow, Ginny, check it out. Russo got a better score than you did. I guess that makes you the stupid one now huh?"

The class started to laugh. A look of hurt crossed Ginny's face as she looked down to floor. Is this how Alex fault when everyone teased her? It wasn't a fun feeling.

To everyone's surprise, including her own Alex stood up. "Hey, stop it. That's not funny. Just because I got a higher grade doesn't mean Ginny is stupid. It could mean a bunch of different things. Maybe she didn't study hard enough, maybe she even though she knows the answers she freezes during tests and forgets it all, or maybe, just maybe she learns differently than everyone else and has a harder time during big exams. Did you ever think of that?"

Nobody said a word.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. So shut up and don't you dare laugh at her. That's my sister and I will not allow you to make fun of her!"

Everyone quickly looked back to their papers and the laughter stopped instantly. Alex sat back down all her friends and brother stared at her in shock.

"What" she asked.

"You just called Ginny your sister." Ron said.

"Well she is, my half sister." Alex nodded.

"She's been horrible to you since the day you met her, why are you sticking up for her?" Malfoy asked.

"I know that it feels like to be laughed at and called stupid. It's not a good feeling and I wouldn't want anyone else to ever feel that way. Plus, they can mess with me all they want, but when they start to mess with my family…the gloves come off and I'm fighting back."

"That's my sister that I know and love." Justin said with a smile.

"That's my girl." Harry said proudly and kissed her cheek.

Ron patted her back. "That's really nice of you, Alex."

"It's not that big of a deal, guys. Plus, I don't think it did any good. Ginny still hates me."

Alex looked back to her paper and forced back tears. She had stood up for Ginny after all she did to her, but to Alex it didn't feel like anything had changed. Ginny was still a monster who was going torment her.

After class the group was headed to their next one when suddenly someone grabbed Alex's arm to stop it. "Hey, wait up."

Everyone froze as Justin and Harry instantly moved Alex behind them, knowing that voice anywhere.

"Ginny I swear if you touch her…"

"Stop!" Alex said pushing passed the boys so she was facing Ginny. She turned back to her brother and boyfriend. "It's ok, I'm not scared of her anymore. I'm ok." She looked back to Ginny and folded her arms over her chest. "What?" she asked. Just because she wasn't scared of Ginny didn't mean she'd be shy and quiet toward her.

"Um…I just wanted to say thank you. You didn't have to stand up for me today and you did. That really means a lot."

Alex dropped her arms and looked shocked. "Really?"

Ginny nodded. "I didn't expect it and I still don't. I've done horrible things to you and I don't ever expect you to forgive me or even be my friend but I am hoping you'll read this." She handed Alex a small sheet of paper.

Alex read over it and blushed softly. "I'm sorry, I don't understand this."

Harry chuckled softly, reading over her shoulder. "It just says Ginny has been seeing a Counselor and getting help to deal with the loss of Fred, in a better way than she has been."

"That's my girl." Ron said with a smile. "Do Mum and Dad know?"

Ginny nodded. "It's off school grounds so I always need permission to leave the school before I go. Theresa and Jerry don't know. I asked Mum and Dad to keep quiet. I don't want a lot of people to know."

"I'm glad to hear your getting some help. I'm proud of you." Alex said nicely.

Ginny nodded. "I also wanted you to read that so when I say what I'm about to, you actually believe it…I'm sorry. I know it will never be enough, but I am really truly 100% sorry. I was angry at Voldamort for taking away my brother and for causing so much pain and hurt in my family and I took it out on you. It was wrong and I know that now. I'm sorry. Like I said, I know it will never be enough but I needed you to hear it anyway. I said my peace, now I have to let you deal with it however you want."

Alex frowned. "I hate what you did to me. I hate that you caused me so much pain and hurt before you even got to know me."

Ginny just nodded and looked down truly feeling bad about her past actions.

"But, it's in the past. I'm not saying I'll forget it. I can't, trust me I can't even if I wanted it. But, that doesn't mean I won't forgive. I'm glad you're getting help and trying to turn your life around. But you need to understand you broke my trust and once that trust is broken it's really hard to get back. But I'm going to allow you to try and earn it back, when you earn back my trust, you'll also earn my forgiveness."

Ginny nodded. "I understand that, Alex. Thank you for giving me another chance. I don't deserve it."

"Everyone deserves a second chance, just not a third." Alex said with a teasing smile.

Ginny giggled softly and nodded. "I understand. I need to get going, I've got another meeting with my Counselor, but thank you, Alex. You're choice to give me another chance means the world to me. I promise you won't regret it." Ginny turned back around and ran off.

Alex inhaled and exhaled a deep breath. "I hope not." She had already tried this once with Ginny and it ended with her being tortured and the ripping of her hand. She looked down to her hands. The scars had healed drastically, they were barely visible anymore. But She knew they were there.

"You did the right thing, Love. Don't question it."

Alex smiled as Harry's thoughts. "I know, thank you."

They shared a passionate kiss on the lips. They pulled away and everyone headed to their next class. Things were definitely looking better. But that scared Alex even more. What was going to happen at the end of the year when she had to leave everyone again?

A/N what do you think? Leave me your thoughts in a review. Next chapter might be the last, but I haven't decided yet.

For updates, sneak peeks, and sometimes cool pictures FIND and LIKE me on facebook at "hopelessromanticgurl"